Film developing magazine



United States Patent 1 Mark Vlock [72] Inventor 25 Tinker St.,Woodstock, New York 12498 [21] Appl. No. 667,132 [22] Filed Sept. 12,1967 [45] Patented Dec. 1, 1970 {54] FILM DEVELOPING MAGAZINE 4 Claims,3 Drawing Figs. T52] U.S. Cl 95 l 00 118/500; 206/62; 21 1/41 [51] Int.Cl G03d 3/00 [50] Field of Search 95/100, 98;

118/500, 501, 503, (inquired); 211/40, 41, (inquired); 206/62, 73,(inquired); 40/(Inquired) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,082,876 6/1937 Davis 95/100 2,431,535 11/1947 Bergstrom 206/62X2,533,101 12/1950 Ghrlst 95/100 FOREIGN PATENTS 138,054 7/1950 Australia95/100 878,750 10/1942 France 413,521 5/1925 Germany PrimaryExaminer-Norton Ansher Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attor iey F. J.Pisarra ABSTRACT: A film developing magazine having an elongated hollowbody of polygonic cross section in which certain opposed wall portionscontain transverse slots that collectively define a plurality of spacedparallel film-receiving slots for receiving and centering individualfilm units which are inserted through the top of the body. The magazineis provided with a releasable locking device for preventing upwarddisplacement of the inserted films during handling of the filledmagazine. In one embodiment, the magazine has a pair of converging lowerwall portions connected at their lower edges to the bottom wall of themagazine, and a pair of diverging upper wall portions which areconnected at their lower edges to the upper edges of the lower wallportions. In another embodimerit, the lower wall portions diverge fromthe bottom wall of the magazine and are connected at their upper edgesto the lower edges of a pair of converging upper wall portions.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 FILM DEVELOPING MAGAZINE THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to new and useful improvements inphotographic film developing accessories and particularly seeks toprovide a novel rack or magazine for holding andretaining a plurality ofspaced exposed X-ray or other films as an incident to the developmentthereof.

Heretofore most X-ray films have been developed through the use ofhangars having a solid longitudinal centerpiece provided with aplurality of spaced pairs of oppositely extending arms each of which isprovided with a spring clip at its outer end.

There are several objectionable features to those hangars such asfrequent loss and/or overexposure of film as the accidental result ofdropping out of the spring clips when immersed in the developing tank;marring of the film in the areas contacted by the clips; and theawkwardness of loading since two hands must be used and after a numberof films have been clipped in place it is difficult to avoid theaccidental displace ment of one or more of them as additional films arebeing clipped in place.

The film developing magazines or racks constructed in accordance withthis invention overcome all of the above-noted objections.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a novel magazine orrack for holding and retaining a plurality of exposed X-ray or otherfilms in spaced parallel relation as an incident to the developmentthereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a film holding magazineof the character stated that is fabricated from a material inert tophoto chemicals and formed as an open ended thin-walled sleeve or troughof polygonic cross section.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magazine of thecharacter stated in which opposed pairs of adjacent walls aretransversely slotted to define collectively a plurality of spacedparallel film receiving and retaining slots.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magazine of thecharacter stated in which the inner end of each slot terminates in a veethat is engageable with an edge portion of the inserted film to centerthe film between and out of contact with the walls of the slot.

Another object of this invention is to provide a magazine of thecharacter stated that includes a quick-release combined film lockingstrap and manipulating handle or suspension hook.

A further object of this invention is to provide a magazine of thecharacter stated that is simple in design, rugged in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

With these and other objects, the nature of which will be apparent, theinvention will be more fully understood by reference to the drawing, theaccompanying detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective, partly broken, of one form of filmdeveloping magazine constructed in accordance with this invention andshows the locking strap in position for attachment thereto;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective of a modification of thefilm magazine; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the modification of FIG. 2, but showingthe locking strap in place after the magazine has been filled with film.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the invention as illustrated isembodied in a film developing magazine having a body generally indicated5 for-med from stainless steel or any other metal or selfsupportingplastic material that is inert to the chemicals normally used indeveloping and fixing exposed films. The body 5 is in the form of anopen end, open top channel or trough having an X-like cross section andincludes a fiat bottom 6, a pair of inwardly inclined or converginglower sidewall portions 7,7 terminating at their upper edges in a pairof outwardly inclined or diverging upper sidewall portions 8,8

which are stiffened at their free ends by being bent back to form ribs9,9.

Opposed pairs of transversely disposed spaced parallel slots 10,10 arecut or otherwise formed in the wall portions 7 and 8, and each slot 10terminates at its inner end in a vee 11. The widths of the slots 10 aresubstantially greater than the thickness of the undeveloped films to besupported therein so that the vees 1 I will serve to center the filmsbetween the walls of the slots and out of contact therewith.

The ends of the upper wall portions 8 are provided with inwardlydirected ears or lugs'12, each pair of which is rigidly connected to atransverse plate 13 provided along its upper edge with a key slot 14intermediate the ends thereof.

A combined film locking strap and suspension handle generally indicated15 is configured to be engaged within the slots 14 and is provided atone end with a hangar or handle extension 16. The ends of the strap 15are trapezoidally shaped as at 17,17 for reception into the slots 14 andfor subsequent locking engagement therewith when the strap is movedlongitudinally in one direction and released when it is moved in theopposite direction.

It will be understood that, preferably, the width spanned by each set ofopposed slots 10 is equal to the longer dimension of a film to besupported therein and the height spanned by alined slots on each side isequal to the shorter dimension of the supported film, although reverseproportions may be used if desired.

Also, if desired to provide for quicker or more complete circulation ofdeveloping fluid around and through the loaded magazine, the flat bottom6 may be suitably perforated or apertured.

In use the magazine may be quickly loaded by one hand simply byinserting individual films in each transverse slot and then securing thestrap 15 over the open top of the magazine into locking engagement withthe slots 14. When the hangar handle 16 is engaged over the supportingunit of a developing tank the weight of the loaded magazine will keepthe magazine securely locked to the strap 15 and no accidentaldisplacement of the films can occur.

. The same inventive concept is illustrated in the modification shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing in which a film developing magazine may beformed from a suitably selected sheet or extruded plastic into an openend, open top channel or trough of generally hexagonal cross sectionthat includes a flat bottom 18, diverging lower sidewalls 19,19 andconverging upper sidewalls 20,20. An externally affixed stiffening andreinforcing collar 21 is provided at each end of the trough and has astrap-engaging stud 22 affixed to its upper panel that spans the opentop of the trough.

In this modification a plurality of vee-ended slots 23 and 24,respectively, extend upwardly from the bottom edges of the lowersidewalls l9 and downwardly from the top edges of the upper sidewalls 20to define collectively a plurality of film receiving and retaining slotsarranged in spaced parallel relationship.

A locking strap 25, similar to the strap 15 of the unit shown in FIG. 1,is provided at each end with a keyhole slot 26 adapted to be broughtinto locking engagement with the studs 22, and is provided at one endwith a suspension hangar (not shown) similar to the hangar extension 16of the strap 15.

An end elevation of the filled and locked magazine is shown in FIG. 3 ofthe drawing and it will be clearly seen that it is only the edges of thefilm 27 that are contacted by elements of the magazines, leaving bothfaces of each film completely exposed for uniform contact byphotochemicals.

Although the illustrated embodiments of the invention show magazinesconstructed as open top troughs or channels, they could be of closed topconstruction. In the latter event it would be necessary to transverselyslot the top closure panel by slots vertically alined with the slots inthe walls in order to permit insertion of the films into the holding andretaining slots collectively defined by the wall slots. The lockingstraps would still be employed to prevent the films from becomingdisplaced from the magazine.

It is of course to be understood that variations in arrangements andproportions of parts may be made within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A magazine for holding and retaining individual units of exposed filmas an incident to the development thereof comprising an elongated hollowbody of X-like cross section including a flat bottom wall, a pair ofconverging lower wall por-v tions connected thereto along their loweredges, and a pair of diverging upper wall portions connected along theirlower edges to the upper edges of said lower wall portions, each pair ofsaid lower and upper wall portions being provided with a plurality ofspaced parallel slots extending laterally from the line of intersectionbetween each pair of walls to a vertical plane lying within thatcontaining the outer edges thereof with the slots in each pairtransversely alined with those in the other pair, means releasablyconnected to said body for preventing upward displacement of any filmunits that have been inserted-therein, and a retaining plate rigidlyaffixed across the ends of said upper wall portions adjacent each end ofsaid body and provided with means for releasable connection with saidfilm displacement preventing means.

2. A magazine for holding and retaining individualunits of exposed filmas an incident to the development thereof comprising an elongated hollowbody of hexagonal cross section including a flat bottom wall, a pair ofdiverging lower wall portions connected thereto along their lower edges,and a pair of converging upper wall portions connected along their loweredges to the upper edges of said lower wall portions, each wall of eachpair of said lower and upper wall portions being provided with aplurality of spaced parallel slots extending laterally from a verticalplane containing the line of juncture between said bottom wall and saidlower wall portions to a vertical plane lying within that containing theline of junction between said lower and upper wall portions with theslots in each pair of connected lower and upper wall portionstransversely alined with those in the other pair, and means releasablyconnected to said body for preventing upward displacement of any filmunits that have been inserted therein.

3. The magazine of claim 2 in which the lateral distance spanned by saidfilm-receiving slots is substantially equal to one cross-sectionaldimension of a film unit, the vertical distance spanned by saidfilm-receiving slots is approximately equal to the other cross-sectionaldimension of said film unit, and the gap between the walls of said slotsis substantially greater than the thickness of any film unit to beinserted therein. A

4. The magazine of claim 3 in which certain of the slots thatcollectively define film-receiving slots are provided with veeshapedclosed ends adapted to engage edge portions of the inserted film unitswhereby to center said film units between the walls of said slots.

